"Strip out your heavy clothes"
Infinitely Polar Bear is a different way of approaching a theme that we usually see as a memory from some characters in film: after growing up, one character realizes that he or she was raised by a parent mentally ill. It's usually an adult awareness of their own childhood.
Maya Forbes' film is a take of her and her sister's days with her maniac depressive father, the surreal Mark Ruffalo. The kids' view of their parents struggles is a surprise at each scene - they're little girls and very mature at the same time, in a representation of how kids can perceive their surroundings in a special manner
This movie didn't grab me from the first scene.It is beautifully shot since the beginning. There's beauty in each take even in the most anguished ones. A sweet and strong soundtrack helps to establish the mix atmosphere related to a bittersweet reality. But my view of it was mostly rational until the end, when the last song in the final credits brought the voice of Forbes's little sister, China, continuing the homage to her family and parents that is the reason of this whole movie. And it was there, at the last scenes, mixed with this heartfelt song with the rolling credits, that this story got me really hard. Not only the story, but the song gave me the opportunity to resignify a very difficult time (the last days haven't been easy).
To think how we can transcend the most painful and significant events in our lives through art... Just beautiful. Just right.
"Strip out your heavy clothes"
This mother... so much love and strength in a very human character |
Infinitely Polar Bear. Directed and written by Maya Forbes. Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Zoe Saldana, Imogene Wolodarsky (Maya's daughter), Ashley Aufderheid. USA, 2014, Dolby Digital, Color, 90 min. |
PS: Thanks, Joe, for telling me about this movie!
Oh, yes. It's quite a peculiar film in the sense of how it deals with and develops such a complicated and delicate issue. Those little girls were forced by circumstance to grow up faster than the usual child. The father is so full of life and yet so absent and empty – that's bipolar for you. it's really sad to follow, but somehow quite captivating at the same time, and it just translates in a beautiful way how it must be to grow up in so fragile a household. It's a lovely story, yet a sad one for sure. I'm glad to hear you had a special connection at the end and that it somehow fit into what difficult a time you've been pulling through. Glad that you watched it!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're absolutely right in your conclusion: art is what helps us get through it all, beautiful art is born from pain and in the end it's all a big circle. thank goodness for that.
"Strip out your heavy clothes". Will give this one a rewatch one of these days :)
[ j ]
It was another beautiful and right on the spot film that you pointed out for me in just the right time, my dear friend!
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